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Admissions Criteria

Applications must be complete and submitted by to the completed application deadline to be considered. A completed application entails the following:

All required items are uploaded into NursingCAS by the specific application deadline
$80 NursingCAS fee paid
The completion of the supplemental application, which includes a Proof of Residency Form and Criminal Background Checks Authorization Form
- The supplemental application is completed outside of NursingCAS. Applicants will gain access via email only once they submit their NursingCAS Application and pay the NursingCAS fee.
$117 Supplemental Admissions Application Fee paid
- The Supplemental Admissions Application Fee is in addition to the fee paid to NursingCAS.
- NOTE: No refunds will be issued for any application fees. Even in the event an applicant receives a discount code, or an approved fee waiver, once an applicant pays the Supplemental Application Fee, there will be no refunds permitted.
- A full supplemental application fee waiver is available on a case-by-case basis through our waiver request form.

For international students: Please note that our programs are only available for U.S. Citizens and permanent residents.

If you have any questions please e-mail gsnadmissions@umassmed.edu

Admissions Requirements by Program

Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) to DNP

GPA Requirement - GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred for all degrees.

Education - Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field.

Prerequisites Required

The following courses must be completed within 5 years of application with a B- or higher preferred. If these prerequisites were taken between 5 to 7 years prior, you may be accepted with a condition to complete course N590H Human Physiology online at Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing in the summer prior to matriculation:
- Anatomy & Physiology 1 with Lab
- Anatomy & Physiology 2 with Lab
The following courses must be completed within 7 years of application with a B- or higher preferred, however, Statistics does not have a time limit:
- Microbiology with lab
- Nutrition
- Human Growth & Development across the lifespan
- Statistics

If any prerequisite courses are in progress at the time of application, you must provide a plan for completion and include college/university, course, expected date of completion. Please upload this plan to the documents section of your NursingCAS application. Online prerequisites are accepted from accredited colleges.

Video Essay - You will be required to complete 3 video essay interviews in the supplemental application; you will have 2 minutes to respond to each essay. There is no additional fee to complete the essays.

Personal Statement 

Please address both prompts below (300 words total):
- Please discuss a person, incident or experience in your life that has led you to want to pursue nursing as a career and describe what it is that makes you a good fit for our accelerated program?
- What is your understanding of the role of a nurse practitioner for the population focus of your intended nurse practitioner role (Family NP, Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP, or Psychiatric Mental health NP)?

Please address the following prompt below (300 words total): 
- How will the DNP enhance your practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)?

References

Please submit 2 letters of recommendation from an academic or professional source, preferred within the last five years:

A professional reference should be from a former supervisor or professional colleague who can speak to your experience, competence, readiness, leadership, work ethic and dedication to your work.
An academic reference should be from a former faculty member or advisor.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to DNP

The BSN to DNP pathway is designed for registered nurses who have completed a BSN from an accredited institution and wish to earn their DNP. This pathway is ideal for graduating nursing students, recent BSN graduates, and experienced nurses who aspire to advance their careers and gain the highest level of clinical expertise.

BSN to DNP

GPA Requirement - GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred for all degrees.

Education - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Unrestricted MA licensure as a registered nurse

Prerequisites Required - Statistics (no time limit on completion) with B- or higher preferred

Personal Statement 

Please address both prompts below (300 words total):                                                               
- Please discuss a person, incident or experience in your life that led you to want to pursue nursing as a career. Please describe what makes you a good candidate for a rigorous, fast-paced doctoral program.
- What is your understanding of the role of a nurse practitioner for the population focus of your intended nurse practitioner role (Family NP, Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP, or Psychiatric Mental health NP)?                                                                                      
Please address the following prompt below (300 words total): 
- How will the DNP enhance your practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)?

References - Please submit 2 letters of recommendation from an academic or professional source, preferred within the last five years:

A professional reference should be from a former supervisor or professional colleague who can speak to your experience, competence, readiness, leadership, work ethic and dedication to your work.
An academic reference should be from a former faculty member or advisor.

Master of Science (MS) in Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership

GPA Requirement - GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred for all degrees

Education - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse

Prerequisites Required - Statistics with a B- or higher preferred                     

Personal Statement - Explain your personal and professional reason you want to pursue this nursing specialty and your 5-year career plan after graduating from the program (500 to 1,000 words)

References

Please submit 2 professional letters of recommendation, preferred within the last five years:

A professional reference should be from a former supervisor or current supervisor and/or a professional colleague who can speak to your experience, competence, readiness, leadership, work ethic and dedication to your work

Post Graduate Certificate (PGC)

The following three nurse practitioner tracks are available for the Post Graduate Certificate:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner	The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track equips future clinicians with the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers caring for acute, acute on chronic, and critically ill adult patients.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner	The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track curriculum is based on generalist training in primary care with a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic disease management across diverse settings and populations for ages 13 and older.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner	The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track is geared towards providing classroom and clinical experience needed to address the mental health needs of patients across the lifespan.

Post Graduate Certificate Program Candidates for admission to the PGC Program must address the following minimum criteria:

GPA Requirement - GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred for all degrees.

Education - Unrestricted MA licensure as a Nurse Practitioner; Eligible out of state applicants must live or plan to relocate to one of the following states: MA, RI, CT, NH, VT, ME

Prerequisites Required with a B- or higher preferred

Statistics
Advanced Pathophysiology
Advanced Pharmacology
Advanced Health Assessment

                                
Personal Statement: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Why are you choosing to pursue a career as an advanced practice nurse in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care? (500 words total).

Personal Statement: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Why are you choosing to pursue a career as an advanced practice nurse in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care? (500 words total).

Personal Statement: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Why are you wishing to pursue a career as an additional scope of practice in mental health and what is it you hope to do with further education? (500 words total).

References - Please submit 2 letters of recommendation from an academic or professional source, preferred within the last five years:

A professional reference should be from a former supervisor or professional colleague who can speak to your experience, competence, readiness, leadership, work ethic and dedication to your work.
An academic reference should be from a former faculty member or advisor.

Post Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

GPA Requirement - GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred for all degrees.

Education

Master’s degree in nursing or related health field completed at an accredited institution
Unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse
Certified as a NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM, or employment as a nurse administrator

Prerequisites Required with a B- or higher preferred - Statistics (no time limit on completion)          

Personal Statement 

APRN Personal Statement 1,000 words:
- What are your reasons, personal and/or professional, as a currently practicing certified APRN or nurse administrator for pursuing a program of study to obtain a DNP degree? (This response should be 500 words) 
- What are your career plans as an advanced practice nurse with a DNP after graduation and in the future? (This response should be 500 words)

APNL Personal Statement 1,000 words:
- What are you reasons, personal and/or professional, as a currently practicing certified APRN or nurse administrator for pursuing a program of study to obtain a DNP degree? (This response should be 500 words) 
- What are your career plans as an APNL with a DNP after graduation and in the future? (This response should be 500 words)

References
Please submit 2 letters of recommendation from an academic or professional source, preferred within the last five years:

A professional reference should be from a former supervisor or professional colleague who can speak to your experience, competence, readiness, leadership, work ethic and dedication to your work.
An academic reference should be from a former faculty member or advisor.